A peek into the peak named Kedarkantha peak trek
All the treks in the Himalayas have its own soul and I love it when you get to see it in person. The higher up you go, the closer you are to the heartbeat of the mountains.
As it is said “You need mountains, long staircases don’t make good hikers.” In the month of September, I started pondering over where to go for my snow trek in December. That is the time is started my trekking search which ended up in Kedarkantha peak. An ideal peak for beginners and one of the most attractive one, especially for those who enjoy the early sunrise.
Here are some of the reasons why I chose this trek.
1. The expedition like feel. The trek to the summit from the base camp starts from 2am. The whole experience of walking in the middle of the night in freezing cold weather with the head torches lighting the way and watching the sunrise from the top of a mountain is very mesmerizing. Seems more like a thrilling adventure.
2. The trek is relatively small which is of 5 days. The trek is more refreshing. The 3rd day has a challenge of a climb from Kedarkantha basecamp to summit and back.
3. Only for one day you experience high altitude. So it is not too strenuous.
Some facts about the Peak
Kedarkantha is a majestic mountain peak of the Himalayas in Uttarakhand. It is located at an elevation of 12,500 feet within Govind Ballabh Wildlife Sanctuary and Govind Ballabh National Park. Kedarkantha trek treats you to an exotic array of flora and fauna all through the trek.
Kedarkantha literally translates to Throat of Lord Shiva. Legend has that Lord Shiva once meditated in Kedarkantha and then relocated to Kedarnath.
According to Hindu mythology, Juda Ka Talab owes its origin to the water droplets that fell from Lord Shiva’s hair. Synonymous with its name, a lake (Talab) was formed where water from Lord Shiva’s bun (Juda) touched the ground.
Summary of my journey
From Delhi I took an overnight bus to Dehradhun. I reached Dehdradhun from where I took a taxi and drove down for 10 hours by road to Sankri. The journey takes you along zigzag roads. At an elevation of 6,400 feet, Sankri is a quaint village located in the foothills of Himalayas. It serves as the base camp for Kedarkantha trek. After a day’s rest and acclimatisation, I started my trek with fellow members of Himalaya Destination. Our first campsite was Juda ka Talab. It is the picturesque sacred mountain lake campsite located at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The lake is famous because it freezes during the winter months.
Next day we trekked around 4 km through pine and oak trees to reach the open highlands just below the Kedarkantha summit. Just as the forest ends, you reach a wide meadow which is Kedarkantha base camp. Located at an elevation of 11,250 feet, Kedarkantha base camp is the second campsite in the Kedarkantha trekking trail. Watching the sunset from the base camp is beautiful. Surrounded by high and mighty peaks, this campsite offers amazing view.
Next day, we took a challenging uphill trek of 6 km to reach the Kedarkantha summit located at an elevation of 12,500 feet. The feeling on top of a summit is breathtaking and will leave you dumbstruck. There is a sense of achievement, the feeling you have earned this view.
By afternoon we got back to Kedarkantha base camp and had lunch. Soon after the lunch we left for our last campsite Hargoan. Later next day we reached back to Sankri. We were lucky enough to experience sunny weather throughout the trek. Being a photographer as well it was a treat to get such striking shots. I now have many beautiful memories to take back home.
So if you want to break free from the societal barriers of life and venture into the wilderness; Trust me, Kedarkantha trek is for you.
Go ahead and find the real you!
